Thursday, November 30, 2006

Hi Knitomatic - just wanted to let you know about this happening craft + DJ event coming up! We're hoping you can help us get the word out.You'll find the poster and more info below too. Please pass on and post freely!.
It's called Spins & Needles Craft + DJ Night and we are coming all the way from Ottawa (where we are based) to Toronto for the first time. It takes place Sunday December 10th at the Gladstone Hotel's Art bar.
Creative types will get together, share ideas and listen to funky music from some local area DJs. People can bring their own projects but we also provide materials and instructions for a project each month. At the Toronto event, featured projects include: felt monsters, tile drink coasters + hip holiday stockings. Check out www.spinsandneedles.com for more info on us.
Hope to see you there! It's going to be a rockin' night.
Cheers,
Melanie Yugo
spins & needles co-organizer
Date: Sunday December 10th
Time: 7 p.m. onwards
Location: Gladstone Hotel : Art Bar (1214 Queen St. W.)
Cover: $8 before 9 p.m. | $10 after 9 p.m.
19+, http://www.spinsandneedles.com
Get crafty + creative while listening to funky beats when Ottawa's Spins
& Needles Craft + DJ Night comes to Toronto for the first time. For
all creative types, who want to work on projects, bounce ideas off one
another, hear some funky music, and get their drink on.
Dive into the craft bins, bring your own art/craft project, or using the
materials provided work on featured projects:
-DIY plush monsters
-hip holiday stockings
-tile drink coasters.
Funky beats provided by:
-Jason P. (Ottawa/spins & needles/stay house!/techcetera/
http://www.myspace.com/jasonskilz)
-Kris Steeves (Toronto/ http://www.krissteeves.com)
-Raul Vargas (Toronto/ http://www.dowhatchagotta.com)
*About Spins & Needles*
Created in 2005 and based in Ottawa, Canada, Spins & Needles is an
independent, monthly craft night and music night bringing together
creative types to work on projects, share ideas, have a few drinks and
listen to some funky beats from local area DJs. It has been recognized
locally, nationally and internationally. In addition to the Craft + DJ
Night, other spin-off events include the monthly Disco Bingo Night at
Shanghai Restaurant (Ottawa), craft sales, various workshops, plus
afterhours installments at the National Gallery and Canadian Museum of
Civilization.
For more info or to join the mailing list to find out about other spin
-off events in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and elsewhere, e-mail
spinsandneedles@gmail.com or check out http://www.spinsandneedles.com .

hee-hee, Cindy made a sweater! i taught her how to do it in sweater class. she decided how long she wanted it & other design elements. Lamb's Pride worsted in charcoal grey knit in the round. way to go cindy! now you're ready to take on the world!

Friday, November 24, 2006

i'm making a hat to go with my tube scarf. the scarf if going great, i knit it when i walk or in the movies. looks great, i will not rip it out. ever.
the hat i settled on is the Paris Beret from Stitch Diva Studios with 2 strands of Fable Baby Alpaca held together. i actually wanted a tree of life aran on it anyway, serendipity that someone else has invented it. hee-hee! i started it last night. ripped it this morning. started it this afternoon. ripped it this afternoon. started it again and god willing thrid time's the charm.
now, normally i would let sleeping dogs lie, but since i am a professional yarn & pattern pusher and because i am posting a picture of this pattern & talking about it in a publish sphere, i am sorta responsible for potentially encouraging you to make it. so here is the thing, the pattern is not the easiest to follow. here are some recommendations for following this pattern with the greatest of ease:
1. before you do anything, make a photocopy of the pattern!!! make an extra copy of the second page too.
2. you will need 3 different coloured highlighters (or 3 different light coloured markers, whatever floats your boat). you will also need a row counter if you don't want to check off rows with a pen and you ABSOLUTELY need the stitch markers listed in the materials.
3. Before you start, read ALL the instructions that come before the pattern actually starts. "Yarn-Design Notes" are very helpful.
4. With colour #1 highlight all the relevant numbers and pattern sequences, especially the pattern sequence for the brim and the increase sequence for the transition row after the brim. don't worry about Diagram 2, it is the same info as the instructions for the transition row.
5. On the big/main chart (diagram 1) and with colours 2 & 3 highlight & colour code the "Cross Left" and "Cross Right" symbols. Also write the row number from bottom to top.

6. Cut out the instructions for "Cross Left" & "Cross Right" on the second page and tape it next to the pattern chart on the first page.

7. Ok, cast on, do your stuff, go to town. As you knit the first round place stitch markers after each pattern repeat - you can leave them where they are for the rest of the hat, don't worry about having to move them.

9. The first round of the main pattern (Diagram 1) is a bit hard going because you're changing needle sizes. go slow.

addenda Nov 30, 2006 ......

10. the insructions for "cross-left" don't seem to work. insert the right needle in the very back of the 2 sts on the left needle (180 degrees, total opposite side of the stitches). make sure that when you put them back on the left needle the knit stitch is on top and the purl stitch is on the bottom.

cecily posie, originally uploaded by myhighfiber.
i'm sorry i haven't posted anything original. i've been busy at work. i've got pictures but haven't had a chance to download them. i'll update you on my projects in the next entry, for now here are my fave freebies right now:

Toronto Craft Alert is taking part in RADIO OPERA: A Benefit Concert for CARE Canada hosted by former MuchMusic VJ Hannah Sung and featuring The Constantines, Jason Collett, comedian Sabrina Jalees and DJ Rory Them Finest. We have put together a fabulous little craft table to pump up the fundraising efforts for humanitarian aid organization CARE Canada and its newest youth initiative, YouthCARE.

Proceeds from crafty sales will go towards CARE-led youth peace-building projects in East Timor. The following generous & talented makers have donated their wares for the show:

RADIO OPERA, an all-ages show, will take place at Lee's Palace (529 Bloor Street West) on December 2nd at 2pm (doors 1:30). Advance tickets are currently on sale through Ticketmaster, Rotate This and Soundscapes for $16, or $20 at the door.

Come by to enjoy the show, score some hot goodies at the craft table & support a great cause!

Some more info on CARE & their projects:

This past September, Hannah traveled with CARE Canada to Indonesia to document the recovery of tsunami and earthquake-affected regions, and to East Timor to speak to youth about what they are doing to move forward a country wrought by political instability and violence. As the voice of YouthCARE, she is currently touring the documentary project to schools across eastern Canada and will be presenting November 20 – 28 in the greater Toronto area.

Please come check out all the handmade merch created by some of Toronto's top craftista-designers. Lots of fab wearables and unusual gifts priced under $30 and nothing over $75! Plus: enjoy DIY demos, hands-on workshops, a stellar charity raffle and yummy eats too.

NEW LOCATION: Please note that CT is now taking place in Leslieville (not the Beaches) at: Queen East Presb. Church - right at Carlaw & Queen on the S.E. corner.

It's easy to get to from Pape subway station (the bus travels straight there via Carlaw) or just take the Queen streetcar - & there's plenty of parking, if you prefer to drive.

Rozaneh Vintage Clothing SaleSunday, November 26th, 200611 am – 6 pm183 Bathurst St. (just N. of Queen, on East side, downstairs)New, unique pieces…skirts, dresses, sweaters, coats, shawls….and…..Beginning to clear current stock to make way for new 2007 vintageacquisitionsWe know it ‘s early, but what are you going to wear for a New Year’s Evecelebration? You’ve probably found that perfect piece looking throughMarilyn’s collection before, it’s bound to happen again. Come on by andtreat yourself to the reward of accomplishing one task way before it’sdeadline. Or better yet, maybe you can get some gift shopping done as well. Ahhh, you’re brilliant, organized, and stylish. That’s why you’reinvited.$5.00, $10.00, $20.00 racks will be on site, be prepared to search andtackle!!!

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Friday, November 17, 2006

my new tea pot needs a cozy 'cause the heat's escaping. the cozy needs to suit the pot and i'm stumped. the pot is modern. mies sid form follows function, however, form also follows form. tea cozy concepts i'm deliberating:

Saturday, November 04, 2006

i am seriously addicted to Doctor Who and i've run out of web episodes. But have found an excellnt Sock Puppet Parody (Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppets vs The Darleks), which is my favourite form of parody. I was even thinking about it in the shower this morning.

and what do you do after you rip out a garmet? re-condition the yarn so you can use it again. xox HP.S. the Doctor Who episode i found was the one i've seen before. s'ok, i watched it anyway. and i found another too: Doctor who - Rise of the cybermen

the greater of 2 messes. i have done a terrible job of switching the yarn. i haven't been pulling it tight enough. well, i did near the ned, but that doesn't help the rest. i'm concerned about changing the tension on that side, i don't want that button band to be shorter than the other. i'm ripping and knitting it again without the bands. i'll add the bands later. might as well knit in pieces then. maybe add some shaping too. throw everything in for the re knit.
xox H
P.S. found a Dr. Who on google! (Doctor Who - The Christmas Invasion)
they deleted almost all of them from YouTube AS I WAS WATCHING THEM! bad luck.
P.P.S. i wa thinking about taking part in the next secret pal but the more i tought about it the more impossible it'll be. i would be a great secret pal, but i'm an awful person to shop for, i'm extremely choosy. also, i have no anonymity, easy to google me and my address.

my cylindrical scarf hasn't worked out either. it's too thick to wear as much as i want. it was my mistake, i flouted the rules of design. it was just right in the fine alpaca, but moving up to the thicker stuff that has more body and less drape didn't work. i'm ripping, no biggie. i've decided to make it again using Lily Chin's Reversible Cables Shawl/Scarf published in Vogue Knitting Shawls. i copied it it from her own copy at the class a few weeks ago (don't have the book). i'll make by beret in a compliemntary cashmere blend (Lang Pashmina) and the universe will fall into place.
xox H
P.S. i'm addicted to the new BBC Doctor Who. I want the DVDs (first and second series) for hanukah. I haven't wanted anyting in particular for Hanukah since i was 11. although, i didn't ask for them but i got a really great set of knives a few years ago. liked those alot.

my ezmerald sweater. look close. i seem to have made an impromptu short row. consulted with Liane and Ramona yesterday on it, we decided it wouldn't add enough length to make a difference. so i kept knitting. i'm supposed to be knitting along with my students in the sweater class. alternating the strands of yarn because it's handpainted has been a bitch because i haven't been knitting the sweater in pieces, had to try and hide the cross-over behind the button band. but the row where i've been crossing the yarn is a mess. it looks like shit. i'm going to rip it out. the question now is do i knit the thing in pieces, switch the yarn at the edge so i can hide the potential mess in the seaming. i'll think about it for now. i'm not sure if the yardage will stretch either. thinking maybe of knitting in pieces and then if i run out i can do the edges in something else.

i've never given a name to a sweater before. names are for living things and ideas and concepts. but this one gets a funny name, ezmerelda because it's emerald. also because i like old people names like zelda and saul and rhoda.

people have been staring at me in the subway. i think it would work better in a solid colour. also, my head is small and small heads need smaller hats. that said, it's way cool, i'll give it to rachel, it's very rachel.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

W.W.J.K: what would jeebus knit? I don't know, is there anything in the bible about knitting? One of the 613 commandments in the old testament (yes, there are 613, not 10. the 10 are just the biggies) is to not make fabric from wool blended with linen (Louet has actually done this with their KidLin yarn). it's probably a cultureal prohibiton from the time of the pyramids, based in the need to define identity by encoding a sense of alterity. Linen was worn by the Egyptians and the Hebrews wore wool and it became taboo to dress like the other cultural group. I know these things, it was sorta my PhD dissertation topic. but the period i studied was a bit bleaker. by the 16th/17th centuries Jews wanted to emulate Gentiles style-wise, but when Jews picked up on trends (like wearing earrings) the gentiles didn't want resemble Jews so they changed the trends. And thus the fashion industry was born!
Hmm, i'm hungry, need to go home & eat. But first, here's my free pattern pics of the moment: